Article conveying mechanism



,1945.) J. P. BENOIT 2,381,798

ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 LW W dam/M a Aug. 7, 1-945. J. P. BENOIT ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w III 2 Aug. 7, 1945. J. P.,-BENOIT ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 P. BENOIT v 2,381,798

ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM I Filed March 25, 1942' 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 7, 1945- J. P. BENOIT ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 l l f own 1., a a i 4 mfimw u 2i 7, 1945- J. P. BENOF'F 2,381,798

ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM- Filed March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 JA E/692012 Aug. 7, 1945.- J. P.,BENO|T 2,381,798

ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug 7, 1945.

J. P. BENOIT I ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 ig- Z- l5 Sheets-Sheet 8 awuwwfoz Aug. 7, 1945. J. P.- BENOIT ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM I .F'ild March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Aug. 7, 1945.- J. P. BENOIT 2,381,798

ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Fi-led March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 Aug. 7, 1945.

J. P. BENOIT ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Fi l'ed March 25, 1942 I 4 I i 7 l5 Sheets-Sheet 11 Aug. 7, 1945. J. P. BENOIT ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 swam-H01,

Aug. 7, 1945. J. P..BENOIT ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 3114;: nfou g- 7, 1945- J. P. BENOIT 2,381,798 ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1942 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 hz-m E a mm mm J MMIMBEI I t 2 i 1 vucn M Patented Aug. 7, .1945

- ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Joseph P. Benoit, Alton, Ill., assignor to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of ()hio Application March 25, 19 %2, Serial No. 436,129

23 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for conveying and handling articles and is particularly adapted for conveying bottles jars, or other glass articles from a forming machine to an annealing leer. The invention in its preferred form as herein illustrated, is adapted for handling glass articles which are subjected to a firefinishing operation during their transfer to the leer. An object of the invention is to provide article conveying and handling mechanism adapted for cooperation with the fire-finishing apparatus.

In the manufacture of bottles and like articles, which are discharged from the automatic blowing machine in rapid succession, they are immediately transferred to an annealing leer while still at a high temperature. A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus capable of handling the articles as fast as they are discharged from the blowing machine, such apparatus in its preferred form comprising means for receiving the bottles, setting them in upright position on a conveyor, transferring them from the conveyor to holding means or cradles, inverting the cradles with the articles therein, ad- Vancing them with an endless conveyor, subjecting the bottoms of the inverted articles to the action of theburners which are arranged to travel with the articles during the fire-polishing operation, thereafter reinverting the articles and transferring them while supported in up right position to an-annealing leer.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of apparatus designed for practicing my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partly diagrammatic elevation of the fire-polishing apparatus and cradle conveyor mechanism by which the articles are advanced to and through the fire-polishing zone.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the cradle conveyor and on opposite sides thereof. ofthe uprighting conveyor and the takeoff conveyor respectively.

Fig. 4 is a section at the line fi-t on Fig. 2 showing a portion of the cradle conveyor.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view showing particularly the means for rotating and controlling the speed of rotation of the spindles by which the bottles are rotated during the firefinishing operation. I

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation at the line 6-6 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation at the line 'l-l tit tilt

on Fig. 1, showing the cradles being lowered to receive the bottles from the uprighter conveyor.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showingbottle carriers or cradles and bottle rotating spindles.

Fig. 9 is a section at theline 99 on Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a bottle carrier.

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail at the line H-lfl on Fig. 8 showing a holding detent for a rod which provides a bottom support for the bottle.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional plan view showing a portion of the endless chain conveyor for the bottle carrier units.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation at the line l3-43 on Fig. l2.-

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of parts shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view showing the gas distributing head and burner units.

' Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional plan view complementary to Fig. 15.

, Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the framework shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

Fig. 18 is a part-sectional elevation at the line i@it on Fig. 1, showing the gas distributor and a burner unit.

" Fig. 19 is a section at the line l9-l9 on Fig. 1 showing a burner unit with the burners in oper- I ative relation to the bottle.

Fig. '20 is a section of a burner.

Fig. 21 is a part-sectional side elevation of two adjoining burner units. 1

Fig. 22 is a section at the line 22--22 on Fig.

24. and also showing a portion of the driving chain for the take-oft mechanism.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the general construction and arrangement of parts is as fol--* lows: Anuprighter mechanism 30 includes an endless carrier 3! which is trained over gear wheels 32 and 33. The bottles B are discharged from the finishing molds F of the bottle blowing machine onto an inclined chute 34 by which they are transferred to uprighters or cradles 35 Whlch swing the bottles to an upright position and place them on the continuously traveling carrier 3|. The construction and operation of the uprighter mechanism are substantially as disclosed in my Patent 1,981,642, November 20, 1934, and need not be described in detail.

Th bottles are transferred from the uprighter conveyor to a cradle conveyor 40 comprising cradle units 4|. Each said unit comprises a bottle carrier or cradle. The conveyor 40 is trained over driving means including a sprocket gear wheel 44 (Fig. 2) and driven means comprising a sprocket wheel 43. The cradles 4| are arranged to be brought over the bottles on the uprlghter conveyor and lowered in succession to receive the bottles, are then inverted to invert the bottles and carry them in inverted position thru the fire-finishing zone where the bottoms of the bottles are fire-finished.

The fire-finishing mechanism includes a fuel gas distributor 45 mounted for rotation about a vertical column 46. A series of fire-finishing units 41 each comprising a pair of burners 48 and 49, are connected in an endless chain trained around the gear Wheels 50 and Each pair of burners has pipe connections with the distributor 45 thru which the fuel gases are supplied to the burners. The pairs of burners are brought in succession into cooperative relation to the inverted bottles as the latter advance with the conveyor 40. The burners operate as hereinafter described to fire-finish or glaze the bottoms of the bottles which are thereafter transferred to the take-off mechanism including an endless take-off conveyor 52 which is trained over a driving gear 53 and a driven gear 54. A take-off device 55 or spider which is keyed on the driveshaft 56 of the gear 53, carries radial fingers 5'! for tran ferring the bottles from the take-off conveyor to a carrying in belt conveyor 58. The latter extends across the front end of an annealing leer 59 to which the bottles are transferred from the conveyor 55 by conventional mechanism (not shown).

The inverted bottles after passing thru the fire-finishing zone are reinverted while carried by the cradles 4| and placed in upright position on the take-off conveyor 52.

The uprighter mechanism is driven by an electric motor 60 having driving connectionswith the conveyor 3|, including sprocket chain 6|, shaft 62, worm gearing 63, sprocket chain 64, sprocket gear 65 and the shaft 66 of the driving. sprocket gear 38. The uprighter cradles 35 are connected to an endless chain 61 trained over gears 68 and 59, the latter driven by a sprocket chain I0 which in turn is driven from the shaft 66. The uprighters 35 are swung from a recumbent position in which they receive the bottles from the chute 34, to an upright position by a stationary cam II for placing the bottles in upright position on the conveyor 30, as described in Patent No. 1,981,642, above referred to.

The cradle conveyor 40 and the fire-finishing mechanism are supported on a frame-work including a frame rectangular in cross section (see Figs. 2 and 6) comprising angle bars I3 extending lengthwise of the apparatus, end plates I4,

lower plates I5, an upper plate I6 and a tubular.

frame member 11 extending lengthwise of the frame-work and attached to the end plates I4. The frame-work I3 to I6, rests on angle bars I8 the frame-work at intervals lengthwise thereof.

Cross bars 19 bolted to the bars I8 and extending lengthwise beyond the latter, have secured thereto vertical frame members 80 to which are attached upper and lower channel guides or tracks 8| and 82 extending lengthwise of the frame for guiding the cradle conveyor chains.

The driving sprocket wheels for the conveyor 40 are mounted on a drive shaft 83 (Figs. 1, 2, 5)

and include the upper sprocket wheel 44 and a lower sprocket wheel 44a. The shaft 63 is driven by an electric motor 65 (Fig. 1) operating thru a worm gear drive 86. The motor 85 is synchronized with the motor 60 for driving the several conveyors in synchronism and at the same linear speed.

The cradle conveyor 40 comprises upper and lower chains 90 and 9| (Figs. 3 to 8). The upper chain runs over the sprocket gears 43 and 44 and the lower chain over the sprocket gears 49a and 44a. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13 the chain 90 is made up of links connected by pivot pins 92 which are engaged by the forked ends 93 (Fig. 3) of the sprockets or arms of the driving gear. Alternate links of the chain 90 have formed integral therewith triangular shaped extension members 94 carrying guide rolls 95 which run on the track 8|. The links of the lower chain 9| are also formed with similar extensions 94a carrying rolls runnin on the lower track 82.

Each of the cradle units includes a vertical lifting rod 91 having a slidable connection with a supporting bar 96 to permit up and down movement of the cradles. Each bar 96 is attached by bolts 96a to a link of the lower chain 9| and carries at its upper end a guide 98 for the lifting rod 91. The latter has secured to its lower end a guide I00 slidable on the bar 96. The bars 96 also have a fixed connection with the sprocket chain 90. The connecting means includes flanged extensions |0I (Figs. 12, 13) formed on the links of the chain. Each of the bars 96 has attached to its upper end a cradle carrying frame I02 to the upper end of which is secured a yoke I03. A cradle I04 is mounted in the yoke 0n trunnions I05 for oscillating movement. The cradle includes a bottle holder I06 comprising an annular series of fingers forming a basket shaped to receive the bottle. The weight of the cradle conveyor and parts carried thereby is supported by rolls I06a journalled on the lower chain links (Fig. 13) and running on a track I 06b. A circular plate I060 (Fig. 1'7), bolted to the gear wheel 43a, provides a support for rolls I06b while travelling with the gear wheel.

The basket I06 has attached thereto a spindle I01 (Fig. 10) which is removably held in a tubular shaft I08 mounted for rotation in the cradle I04 and providing a swivel connection of the basket to the cradle. The spindle is held in .position by spring actuated detents |09a mounted in a. collar I09 attached to the shaft I08 for rotation therewith. The detents engage notches formed in the spindle. This construction permits the spindle to be replaced by others of different lengths for handling longer or shorter bottles.

The cradle I04 is oscillated about the trunnions I05 for inverting and reinverting the bottles by means including a segmental gear IIO attached to the cradle (see Fig. 9) and a rack bar III. The rack bar is attached to a slide block II2 (Figs. 6 and 7) mounted for up and down sliding movement on the frame I02 and carrying a cam follower roll H3. Cam plates H5 and H6 are mounted on the frame plate 18 and each provided with cam tracks Ill and H0. runs on the upper cam tracks II! which thus control the swinging movements of the cradle.

Means for lifting and lowering the cradle bodily includes a cam follower roll I20 on the rod 91. It will be noted that while the carrier is traversing the fire-finishing zone it is in its upwardly swung position with the bottle inverted. After the fire-finishing operation and as the cradle moves toward the takeoff conveyor, the cam follower roll H3 runs along one-of the cam tracks ll'l (Fig. 2) and swings the cradle downward about its trunnions I08, thereby swinging the bottle downward and reinverting it to an upright position in which it is placed on the takeoff conveyor 52.

Immediately after the bottle has been swung downward and placed on the conveyor 52 (see Fig; 2) the cradle is lifted bodily by means of a stationary cam lilo (Fig. '7) on which runs a cam follower roll on the lifting rod 91. The cradle is thus withdrawn from the bottle while the latter advances with the conveyor 52. While the cradle travels around the gears 43, tie, it is supported in its elevated position by a plate me which forms a continuation of the cam track lzla. The cradle is then lowered under the control of a cam track I2! down which the roll i20 runs.

' The cradles then remain in their lowered position until they have again passed through the fire-finishing zone.

In order to prevent the bottle from dropping out of the basket I00 during the inverting movements of the cradle a bottle supporting plate iii is provided. This plate is carried on a pair of arms iii pivoted to swing about the trunnions W5. A segmental pinion i2 3 attached to one of said arms, meshes with a rack bar 925 secured to the upper end of a rod I26. A connector block new attached to the rod 126, is slidable up and down on the frame mi and carries a cam follower roll i2'l which is adapted to run on the cam tracksi it.

A guide block i 28 attached to the frame nr, provides. a guideway for the rack lit and also forms a stop in the path of the rod lit to limit the upward movement of the rack bar. in Fig. 6 the stop i283 holds the arms its in a downwardly inclined position with the bottom plate I22 at one side of the bottle conveyor. The dam tracks iii and its (Fig. 2) are so shaped relatively that when the cradle Edit commences to swing the bottle upward, the bottom plate it? remains in its lowered position until the bottle is brought over said plate. The rack bar i225 then commences its downward movement, the two racit bars moving down simultaneously so that the supporting plate [122 swings upwardly with the basket until brought to a substantially horizontal position. The upward movement of the supporting plate is then arrested while the basket continues its upward swing to a vertical position. When the inverted bottle is swung downward the bottom supporting plate lit operates in the same manner to prevent the bottle from dropping from the basket during the latter half of the downward swinging movement of the cradle. When the cradles are lifted bodily to their elevated position shown at the right in Fig. 2 the cam rolls I21 engage the lower face of a stationary plate I29 and thereby hold the arms I23 in an outwardly inclined position 'as shown in Fig. 7, out of the path of the bottles.

The connection between the rod I26 and the As shown The roll H3 slide block I201: (Figs. 8 and 11) comprises a detent I30 mounted in the slide block and held in yielding engagement with the rod by a spring Hi. The rod may be formed with a notch to receive the detent. A similar connection is provided between the slide block 2 and the rack bar Ill, comprising a spring actuated detent I32 (Fig. 8). These connections provide safety means by which the lifting frame is released from the rack and gear mechanism which swings the cradle and the bottom plate I22, in the event of any obstruction interfering with the normal swinging movements of said parts.

The cradle M is held steady in its downward-.

V finishing operation includes spindles lib individual to the cradle units and connected to travel with the-cradle conveyor. Referring to Figs. 8 and 12 to 14, each spindle its is square in cross section and has a bearing in a bushing its in which it is slidable up and down. The bushing is mounted for rotation within a tubular bearing 90a formed integral with the chain link 90. Means for rotating the spindle comprises the sprocket wheel lii'i keyed to the bearing sleeve I36 and driven as presently described. The lower end portion of the spindle is round and mounted for rotation within a bearing block in which has a slidable connection with a vertical bar its (see Fig. 13) which is secured to the bar at by bolts M0 with a spacing block i ii between said bars. The means for lifting the spindle includes a tubuiar lifting member M2 thru which the spindle extends within which it rotates. Said lifting mernher a slidable connection with the bar I iota up which the cam rolls its travel as the springs itii hold the spindle with a spindles approach the fire-finishing zone thereby lifting the spindles into position for rotating the bottles which at this time are held by the cradles in an inverted position. A frictional driving con nection between the spindle and the bottle carrier its is provided by a head 6% (Fig. 13) which is keyed to the spindle and carries a friction gasket ld'l of rubber or the lik to frictionally engage the collar idd. The cam track MM is at a height to lift the connector 9 12 a short distance after the spindle has been lifted into driving connection with the bottle carrier, so that the yielding pressure against the collar iiiii.

The means for rotating the spindles and controlling the speed of rotation (Figs. 5 and 12) comprises an endless chain its running in mesh with the sprocket wheels Ml. The chain is trained over a driving sprocket wheel Mid and idler sprockets use. The wheel its is driven by an electric motor iti. it will be noted that if the chain M8 is held stationary it will rotate the travelling spindles. By the use of the motor liil the speed of rotation of the spindles can be either accelerated or reduced.

The fire-finishing mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 and 15 to 22 will now be described. The

fire-finishing units 41 which cooperate individually with the bottle carrying units or cradles, are connected to travel with the endless chain 81. The chain comprises pairs of links, each pair including a lower link I52 (Fig. 21) and an upper link I53, said pairs connected by pivot pins I54 which engage the gears 50 and The weight of the chain and parts carried thereby is supported by rolls I55 connected to the lower links I52 and running in a channel shaped track I56. Rolls I51 on the pins I54 run in the channel track and guide the chain. The chain and parts carried thereby are supported on a frame-work comprising longitudinal bars I58 and transverse arms or brackets I 580, to which the tracks I56 are secured. Thechain is held against tilting movement under the weight of parts carried thereby, by means of a series of arms I59 in the form of plates riveted to the links I53 and extending inwardly with their inner ends entering, and traveling in slotted guide rails I6I mounted on bracket arms I60 on the brackets I50a.

The distributor 45 for the fuel gas is attached to the upper end of a tubular shaft I62 mounted for rotation about the column 46. Said shaft is driven from shaft 83 by means of the sprocket drive chain I63 running on a drive gear I64 on the shaft 83 and a driven gear I65 secured to the lower end of the shaft I62. The gears are so proportioned that the distributor 45 is given one complete rotation in the same length of time required for the burner carrying chain 81 to complete its circuit. The chain 81 travels at the same linear speed as the cradle conveyor.

The gas for the burner may be introduced thru a pipe I66 into the chamber 45a (Fig. 18) of the distributor, said gas'preferably consisting of a mixture of a fuel gas and air or oxygen. Pipe connections from the distributor to the burners include pipes I61 attached to the distributor and provided with valves I68 by which the supply to any selected burners may be cut off. The gas passes thru fire traps I69 and thence thru pipe lines I1I individual to the burners 48 and 49.

The burners of each unit 41 and adjusting and control mechanism therefore are supported on a bracket I12 bolted to a chain link I533. The inner burner 48 is carried by a vertical bar I13 connected by bolts I14 (Fig. 21) to the front face of the bracket I12. The outer burner 49 is carried by vertical bar I which is mounted for up and down sliding movement on the bracket, under the control of a cam as hereinafter described. The mechanisms supported respectively by the bars I13 and I15, including the burners and various adjusting devices, are substantially similar. The mechanism carried by the bar I13 includes a slide block I16 adjustable up and down on the bar I13. The adjusting means comprises a screw I11 swiveled in an arm I18 fixed to the bar I13 and threaded thru a lug on the block I16. The burner 48 is connected by a shaft I19 to a verticallydisposed arm I80 extending downward from and forming part of a horizontally disposed carrying frame including upper and lower horizontal bars NH and I82 respectively. The bar I8I is slidably mounted in the block I16 permitting said frame to be adjusted horizontally by means of an adjusting screw I83 swiveled in an extension of the frame and screw threaded in a lug I85 on the block I16. The burner 48 is rotatably adjustable about a. pivot I19 by means of an adjusting knob I66 on a shaft I81'having driving connection thru a pair of bevel gears I88 with a worm shaft I89 which drives a segmental worm gear I90 attached to the burner. The burner itself as shown in Fig. 20 is of conventional construction and need not be described in detail.

The burner 49 is automatically lifted to the Fig. 18 position in order to clear the bottles as they are brought into the fire-finishing zone by the cradle conveyor, then lowered and again lifted for clearing the bottles as they advance beyond the fire-finishing zone. This up and down movement of the burner 49 is controlled by a stationary cam I9I. Each burner unit includes a lever I92 fulcrumed on the bracket I12 and carrying at one end a roller running on the cam I9I. The other end of the lever is connected thru a link I93 with the vertical slide bar I15. When a bottle has been brought into juxtaposition to the burner 48, the cam I 9| operates to lower the burner 49 from the Fig. 18 position to the position shown in Fig. 19. The means for adjusting the burner 49 about its shaft and'for adjusting it bodily in horizontal and vertical directions are substantially the same as the adjusting means for the burner 48.

In order to protect the mechanism immediatelyabove the burners from the intense heat, I provide a shield comprising horizontally disposed plates I95 (Figs. 15, 16, 18, 19, 21) which travel with the burners. These plates are secured by attaching means I96 to the lower ends of the rods I13. The plates are of a width to overlap at all times during their travel and thereby form a continuous shield. 1

The takeofl mechanism (Figs. 1 and 23 to 2'1) by which the fire-finished bottles are taken from the cradle conveyor and transferred to the carrying-in conveyor 58, will now be described. The endless takeoff conveyor 52 comprises a chain made up of links 200 (Fig. 24) connected by pivot pins 20I. Plates 202 are connected with the pivot pins and are shaped to provide a substantially continuous plane surface on which the bottles are supported. The front edge 203 of each plate is curved concentrically with its supporting pin and the opposite edge is a re-entrant 'curve to fit the'next adjoining plate thereby permitting the plates to swing about their pivots as they pass around their gears without breaking the continuity of the supporting surface.

The take-off spider 55 comprises a hub keyed to the shaft 56 and formed with integral radial, hollow arms 204. The takeoff fingers 51 are attached to the outer endsof rods 205 which are mounted for lengthwise and rotatable movement in the hollow arms 204. Each rod 205 extends thru a sleeve 206 which has formed integral therewith, a stud 201 on which is mounted a cam follower roll 208. The roll runs on a cam track 209 formed on the periphery of a stationary cam disk 2 I 0, secured by bolts 2I I to the upper flanged end of a tubular post 2I2 in which the shaft 56 is journalled. The sleeve 206 is held against movement lengthwise of the rod 205 in one direction by a collar 2I3 keyed to said rod. The rod is formed at its outer end with a head 2I4 provided with an eccentric opening to receive the shank of the finger 51, the head being split and clamped to said shank by a clamping bolt 2I5. Mounted within the hollow arm 204 is a tubular cam 2l 6 held against movement by a pin 2I1, said cambeing formed with spiral cam slots 218. A pin 2 I9 extending thru the rod 205 runs in the cam slots which are shaped to rock the shaft and swing the takeoff finger 51 from its lowered position in which it lies in the horizontal plane to a position 2,381,798 in which its forward endextends upwardly as shown at the left in Fig. 25.

As the takeoff spider rotates in a counter clockwise direction the takeoff fingers are brought in succession behind the, bottles on the conveyor 52.

As each finger travels with the conveyor around the axis of the spider, it is moved radially outward under the control of the stationary cam track 209, the spiral cams H8 at the same time swinging the fingers downwardly to a horizontal position. The cam follower roll 208 is held against its cam by a compression spring 22!] mounted on a rod 22l which extends thru the stud 2'0! and forms a guide therefor. As the bottles approach the cross conveyor 58 they are deflected from the takeoff conveyor by a guide rail 222 preferably in the form of a spring rod adjustably secured at one end by a clamping bolt 223. A second guide rail 224 may be "positioned at the opposite side of the path followed by the bottles. The takeoff fingers push the bottles from the conveyor 52 onto the conveyor 58 and are then retracted, preparatory to engaging succeeding bottles.

Ihe operation of the mechanism as a whole may be summarized as follows: The bottles B delivered from the forming molds F (Fig. l) slide down the chutes M to the cradles 35 and are placed by the cradles in upright position on the uprighter conveyor dl which travels in a counter clockwise direction and thereby brings each upstanding bottle beneath and in register with a cradle w ll which has been lifted as shown in Fig.

7, the bottle receiving basket ltd being directly over the bottle. as the 'cradle conveyo travels forward along with that portion of the uprighter conveyor directly beneath, the cradles Hi l are lowered so that the bottles enter the baskets not as shown at the left in Fig. 6, the lowering .movement being under the control of the inclined cam track lilo. (Fig. 7). immediately after a bottle is thus received in its basket the cradle is inverted under the control of the stationary cam track ill (Figs. 2 and c) thereby swinging the bottle upwardly to an inverted position. Then as the inverted bottle advances toward the fireflnishing zone, the bottle rotating spindle H35 which is directly beneath it, is moved upward by the cam N 2 to operative position (Figs. 2, 13). The spindle is then rotated by the mechanism shown in Fig. 5 and rotates the bottle.

While the bottle is thus rotated a pair of burners i8 and 49 applies an intensely hot flame to the bottom surface of the bottle by which a thin surface layer of the glass is heated to a substantially liquid or molten condition in which it forms a smooth glazed surface, obliterating the usual shear marks. This glazing operation is facilitated by the force of the flames directed against said surface which tends to spread the softened glass in a manner to eliminate cracks, fissures,

scars and the like. y

A sufiicient number of burner units is employed to take care of a large output from the bottle blowing machine, the bottles passing in rapid succession thru the fire-finishing zone. As the bottles pass beyond the burners and approach the takeoff conveyor 52 the cradles are reinverted, swinging the bottles downward as indicated at the right in Fig. 6 and positioning them on the conveyor 52. The cradle is then lifted to the, broken line position, withdrawing the basket W6 upwardly to clear the bottle which is then carried by the conveyor 52 to the takeoff spider 55 (Figs.

1 and 23) by which it is transferred to the belt conveyor 58.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim: I

1. The combination of a horizontally traveling uprighter conveyor having a traveling supporting surface on which articles are placed and supported in upright position, a cradle conveyor traveling in a path having a portion thereof adjacent to a portion of the path of said uprighter conveyor, means for driving said conveyors in synchronism, a series of cradle units carried by the cradle conveyor and each comprising a cradle mounted to swing about a horizontal axis, means for swinging the cradles about said axes and thereby inverting the cradles, and means for automatically transferring the articles from the uprighter conveyor to the said cradles while the latter are inverted.

2. The combination of an endless uprlghter conveyor, an endless cradle conveyor, an endless takeoff conveyor, means for continuously driving said conveyors in synchronism, said cradle conveyor comprising a series of cradle units, each said unit including a cradle, a basket carried by the cradle to receive articles from the uprights:- conveyor, and automatic means for swinging the cradle about a horizontal axis at predetermined points in its path of travel and thereby inverting and reinverting articles carried in the basket, said cradle conveyor being positioned to travel over a portion of the upright er conveyor and carry the inverted cradles over said portion of the uprighter conveyor, means for lowering the cradles while inverted and traveling over the uprighter conveyor and thereby lowering the inverted baskets to receive the articles from the uprighter conveyor, said cradle swinging means being timed to reinvert the cradles with the articles therein and thereby invert the articles and thereafter to invert the cradles and thereby reinvert the articles therein, said takeofi conveyor being positioned to travel beneath the reinverted arbination, a traveling cradle conveyor, means for driving the conveyor, a series of cradle units connected to travel with the conveyor, each said unit comprising a cradle mounted to rock about an axis and a basket carried with the cradle for receiving articles and having a swivel connection with the cradle, spindles individual to said, units and connected to travel with the conveyor, means for bringing the spindles into operative relation to the baskets and the articles supported therein, with the spindles in line with the swivels, and means for rotating the spindles and thereby rotating the baskets with the said articles therein about said swivels.

4. Fire-finishing apparatus comprising in combination, a traveling cradle conveyor, means for drying the conveyor, a series of cradle units connected to travel with the conveyor, each said unit comprising a cradle mounted to rock about an axis and a basket carried with the cradle for receiving articles and having a swivel connection with the cradle, spindles individual to said units and connected to travel with the conveyor, means 

